AMD Radeon R5 Graphics vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M Comparison

The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M represent two different approaches to mobile graphics from the same era, one built into the processor and the other as a discrete module. The recorded data shows a split decision: the Radeon R5 dominates in OpenCL compute workloads, while the GeForce GT 730M takes the lead in Vulkan graphics tests. This makes the choice between them heavily dependent on the specific applications and APIs in use, rather than a clear overall winner.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics is the clear winner in synthetic compute performance, specifically in the Geekbench OpenCL test. Its recorded score of 5183 is substantially higher than the GeForce GT 730M’s 3107, a difference of 66.8%. This indicates that the Radeon R5 is significantly stronger when a workload can be offloaded to the GPU through OpenCL, which is often used in content creation, video encoding, and certain scientific or productivity applications. In this context, the Radeon R5 behaves like a more capable compute processor, punching well above its integrated graphics classification. Its average benchmark score of 3883 also reflects this strength, placing it in the 23rd percentile of all GPUs in the database.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M, on the other hand, wins in the Geekbench Vulkan test. Its score of 3524 outpaces the Radeon R5’s 2582, representing a 26.7% advantage for NVIDIA. Vulkan is a modern graphics API used in many games and high-performance rendering applications, so this result indicates that the GT 730M is the better choice for gaming and real-time 3D workloads that leverage Vulkan. Its average benchmark score of 3316 places it in the 20th percentile of all GPUs, slightly below the Radeon R5’s overall average. However, the GT 730M’s victory in the Vulkan test is the more relevant metric for typical gaming scenarios.

The split also extends to their rival positioning. The Radeon R5’s nearest rival in the database is the NVIDIA Quadro 2000, which has an average score of 3898, just 0.4% higher. The Radeon R5 also sits close to the Quadro K2000D and Quadro 2000D, which are 0.9% and 1.2% higher respectively. Meanwhile, the GeForce MX110 trails the Radeon R5 by 1.3%. For the GT 730M, the closest competitor is the Intel HD Graphics 530, which scores 3332, a mere 0.5% above NVIDIA’s part. The GT 730M also edges out the GeForce 920M by 0.9% and the GeForce GT 640 by 3.3%, while trailing the Intel HD Graphics P4600 by 2.2%. These figures show that both GPUs are tightly grouped with their contemporaries, but the Radeon R5 holds a slight edge in raw average compute output.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics has an average benchmark score of 3883, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M’s 3316. This places the Radeon R5 in the 23rd percentile of all GPUs, while the GT 730M sits in the 20th percentile.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in OpenCL performance?

A: The Radeon R5 Graphics scores 5183 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 66.8% higher than the GT 730M’s 3107. This is the largest performance gap recorded between the two in any test.

Q: Which GPU performs better in Vulkan applications?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M scores 3524 in Geekbench Vulkan, beating the Radeon R5’s 2582 by 26.7%. For Vulkan-based workloads, the GT 730M is the stronger option.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference between the two?

A: The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics has a TDP of 15 W, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M has a TDP of 33 W. The Radeon R5 is therefore more power-efficient on paper, consuming less than half the power budget.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M has 384 shading units, whereas the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics has 256. Despite this, the Radeon R5 still wins in OpenCL compute, suggesting architectural efficiency makes up for the unit count difference.

Q: Are both GPUs still in production?

A: No, both are end-of-life products. The Radeon R5 was released in September 2014, and the GT 730M was released earlier in January 2013.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between these two GPUs reveals a stark contrast in performance depending on the API tested. In Geekbench OpenCL, the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics achieves a score of 5183, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M manages only 3107. This gives AMD a 66.8% advantage, a massive margin that highlights the Radeon R5’s strength in compute-heavy tasks. The score is even more impressive when considering the Radeon R5 is an integrated graphics processor with a 15 W TDP, while the GT 730M is a discrete MXM module rated at 33 W. The Radeon R5’s OpenCL result also puts it ahead of several professional-grade NVIDIA Quadro parts in the database, including the Quadro 2000, which scores 3898, and the Quadro K2000D at 3919. This suggests that for OpenCL workloads, the Radeon R5 competes well above its class.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the tables turn. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M scores 3524, compared to the Radeon R5’s 2582. This represents a 26.7% lead for NVIDIA, a decisive victory in a test that matters for gaming and modern rendering pipelines. The GT 730M’s Vulkan score is also higher than its own OpenCL score, indicating that NVIDIA’s Kepler architecture handles the Vulkan API more efficiently. The Radeon R5, by contrast, shows a significant drop from its OpenCL score to its Vulkan score, suggesting that its compute-oriented design does not translate as well to graphics API performance. The GT 730M’s Vulkan result places it in close competition with the Intel HD Graphics 530, which scores 3332, and the GeForce 920M at 3287, though NVIDIA’s part comes out ahead of both.

The overall wins tally is even at one apiece, with AMD taking the OpenCL test and NVIDIA taking the Vulkan test. This makes the choice between these two GPUs largely dependent on the software environment. For users running OpenCL-accelerated applications, the Radeon R5 is clearly superior. For users playing Vulkan-based games or using Vulkan-rendered content, the GT 730M is the better performer. The average benchmark scores in the database reflect this mixed profile: the Radeon R5’s average of 3883 is higher than the GT 730M’s 3316, but that average is heavily weighted by its dominant OpenCL result. The GT 730M’s average is pulled down by its weaker OpenCL showing, even though it wins in Vulkan.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ significantly in their memory configurations. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M comes with 2 GB of dedicated DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s. The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics, being an integrated processor, uses system shared memory with a bus width and type also listed as system shared, and its bandwidth is described as system dependent. This means the GT 730M has a fixed, dedicated memory pool, while the Radeon R5’s performance is tied to the system RAM and motherboard design. The GT 730M’s memory clock is listed at 900 MHz, with 1800 Mbps effective data rate, while the Radeon R5’s memory clock is simply marked as system shared.

The clock speeds also differ. The GT 730M has a base clock of 725 MHz and a boost clock of 725 MHz, meaning it runs at a constant frequency. The Radeon R5 has no base or boost clock listed in the database, only a memory clock of system shared. This makes direct clock speed comparison impossible, but the GT 730M’s fixed 725 MHz is a notable specification point. In terms of compute units, the GT 730M has 384 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operation pipelines. The Radeon R5 has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and only 4 ROPs. These numbers explain some of the performance differences: the GT 730M has 50% more shading units, double the TMUs, and four times the ROPs, yet it still loses in OpenCL, underscoring the architectural efficiency of the Radeon R5.

The bus interface is another differentiator. The GT 730M uses PCIe 3.0 x16, a standard discrete GPU interface, while the Radeon R5 is an IGP with no separate bus interface. The GT 730M is also an MXM module, meaning it is a removable graphics card for laptops, whereas the Radeon R5 is integrated directly into the motherboard or processor package. Display outputs are motherboard dependent for the Radeon R5 and portable device dependent for the GT 730M, reflecting their different integration paths. The GT 730M has no power connectors, relying on the MXM slot for power, while the Radeon R5 has no power connector listed at all.

Architecture Differences

The architectural foundations of these two GPUs are fundamentally different. The AMD Radeon R5 Graphics is based on the GCN 2.0 architecture, specifically the Spectre SL chip, and is part of the GCN 2.0 IGP generation for Kaveri processors. It is built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 2,410 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The transistor density is 9.8 million per square millimeter. The Radeon R5 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. Its predecessor is TeraScale 3 IGP, and its successor is GCN 3.0 IGP.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M is based on the Kepler architecture, using the GK107 chip, and belongs to the GeForce 700M generation. It is manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with 1,270 million transistors on a 118 mm² die, giving it a higher transistor density of 10.8 million per square millimeter. The GT 730M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. Its predecessor is GeForce 600M, and its successor is GeForce 800M. Notably, the GT 730M’s DirectX 12 support is listed as 12 (11_0), indicating a lower feature level compared to the Radeon R5’s 12_0, which could have implications for certain modern games and applications.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell an interesting story. The Radeon R5 has nearly double the transistors of the GT 730M, 2,410 million versus 1,270 million, and a much larger die at 245 mm² versus 118 mm². This larger chip is likely a key reason for its strong OpenCL performance, as more transistors allow for more compute resources. However, the GT 730M’s higher transistor density, 10.8M per mm² versus 9.8M per mm², shows that NVIDIA packed more transistors into a smaller area, which may contribute to its better Vulkan efficiency. The pixel rate of the GT 730M is 5.800 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 23.20 GTexel/s, both higher than the Radeon R5’s 3.032 GPixel/s and 12.13 GTexel/s. The GT 730M also has a higher FP32 compute of 556.8 GFLOPS versus 388.1 GFLOPS for the Radeon R5, yet the Radeon R5 still wins in OpenCL, suggesting that software optimization and driver maturity play a significant role in real-world performance.